Second Seeded Tusculum Takes Home 2016 SAC Men’s Soccer Tournament Crown

UPDATED PRINTABLE BRACKET

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Andre De Giorgi booted home a golden goal in the 109th minute to clinch the South Atlantic Conference title for the Tusculum Pioneers, as they outlasted the Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters in the SAC Championship match on Sunday evening at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.

The play that ended the SAC tournament started with a free kick for Tusculum from beyond the center stripe for Georgios Charkoutsakis. The fullback's ball made it into the 18-yard box and was slipped on off the head of Jonathan Spicher and came right to the foot of De Giorgi. The junior buried it, ending a long night of soccer at Manchester Meadows. The title is the sixth in program history for the Pioneers.

The attacking started right away, as LMU took the ball and immediately headed for the Tusculum net, but a shot by Victor Peres was a saved by Jorge Alvarez. Tusculum responded in the seventh minute when Dallas Dunn sent one on frame, by August Ahlin was on the spot for the denial.

In the 16^th minute, Peres tried his luck again off a set piece, aiming a shot towards the front post that almost found its intended destination, but Alvarez again made the save.

The third time proved to be the charm for the Railsplitters, as they made it on to the scoresheet moments later. Henrique Rezek stole the ball from a Tusculum defender, beat Alvarez off the dribble and tapped one home to give his team a 1-0 lead.

It was an advantage that would be short-lived, however. In the 27^th minute, Velte Salte made a run down the right side and sent in perfect cross to the area around the six-yard box. Andre De Giorgi was on the other end of the ball and his header beat Ahlin to draw his school level.

The Railsplitters had the final chance of the opening 45 on another free kick in the 33^rd minute, but another inquiry by Peres on a free kick was stopped by Alvarez and the teams went into halftime even at 1-1.

The second half consisted of a number of near misses for both teams. In the 57^th minute, Isai Hernandez put a header on goal for LMU, but Alvarez was made the save. The Railsplitters threatened again a minute later when a Hishman Abdelaziz sent in a shot, from 30 yards out but it drifted just wide. Two more chances for LMU also went wanting in the half, including a shot by George Burne that was stopped by a Tusculum defender on the goal line.

Tusculum's best chance in regulation came in the final minute on a free kick by Vetle Salte from 25 yards out that almost found twine, but Ahlin tipped it over the crossbar and following corner was cleared, allowing time to run out on the first 90 minutes of the night.

After a first overtime period that saw both teams get opportunities, but neither convert, the game went into a second overtime, where Di Giorgi found the winner.

SAC All-Tournament Team

Name
Aladdin Elfares, Coker
Chris Bordelon, Coker
Gabriel Garcia, Brevard
Heath Turner,  Brevard
Henrique Rezek, Lincoln Memorial
Philip Wong, Lincoln Memorial
Felipe Machado,  Lincoln Memorial
Jorge Alvarez,  Tusculum
Georges Charkoutsakis, Tusculum
Isai Hernandez, Tusculum
Andre De Giorgi (MVP), Tusculum